Mobile shelving system and method of assembly

ABSTRACT

A mobile shelving system having tracks and multiple shelf units for moving along the tracks is disclosed. A shelf unit includes vertical posts that are attached to a carriage using fasteners that are part of the carriage. Inexpensive clips connect to the posts and have slots that also easily accommodate flanges of shelves so that mounting shelves is quick and easy. The shelves include a series of slits for receiving tabs that are part of barrier elements. The barrier elements act to limit movement of file folders stored on the shelves. The system is easily and quickly assembled and is relatively inexpensive.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a mobile shelving system andmore particularly to a simplified mobile shelving system to makeassembly easier, faster and less expensive.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Mobile shelving systems are generally defined as storage systemshaving movable shelf units so that only one access aisle is availableand required. With such a system, the shelf units are stored abutting orclosely adjacent each other. This arrangement saves considerable spacewhen compared to stationary shelf units having access aisles for eachunit. Mobile shelving systems include a track and carriages for rollingon the track. The system also includes a drive mechanism which may bemanual or motor driven to cause the shelf units to move along the track.Examples of mobile shelving systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos.3,923,354; 3,967,868; 4,017,131 and 5,007,351.

[0005] Shelf units usually include vertical standards, uprights orposts, as well as shelves and devices to mount the shelves to the posts,known as brackets, keys or clips. Various examples of such shelf unitsare shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,880,179; 1,952,111; 3,169,810; 3,306,466;4,173,934; 4,317,523; 4,711,183; 5,199,585; and 5,295,591.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] What is described here is a mobile shelving system including acarriage having fasteners for attaching members of the carriagetogether, vertically disposed corner frame members connected to thecarriage, frame posts also vertically disposed located intermediate thecorner frame members and being connected to the carriage using carriagefasteners, a plurality of clips for connecting shelves to the cornerframe members and to the frame posts, a plurality of shelves connectedto the corner frame members and the posts, and a plurality of barrierelements connected to selected ones of the plurality of shelves forlimiting the depth of storage insertion. The method of assembly is alsodescribed.

[0007] An advantage achieved with the present invention, which isbelieved not to be available in earlier related devices, is that themobile shelving system disclosed here is simplified to make assemblyeasier, faster and less expensive.

[0008] A more complete understanding of the present invention and otherobjects, advantages and features thereof will be gained from aconsideration of the following description of a preferred embodimentread in conjunction with the accompanying drawing provided herein. Thepreferred embodiment represents an example of the invention which isdescribed here in compliance with Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (firstparagraph), but the invention itself is defined by the attached claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0009]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a mobile shelvingsystem.

[0010]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a partially assembled shelf unit.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a partially exploded isometric view of a shelf unitillustrating assembly of a frame post to a carriage.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a plan view of a frame post before being fully formed.

[0013]FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of the frame post viewedwithin the circle 5-5 of FIG. 3.

[0014]FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a clip used in the mobile shelvingsystem.

[0015]FIG. 7 is a plan view of the clip before final forming.

[0016]FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the clip at the beginning ofinsertion into slits on the frame post.

[0017]FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the clip inserted into the framepost.

[0018]FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of a shelf of the mobile shelvingsystem.

[0019]FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a partially assembled shelf unitshowing the partial installation of the top shelf.

[0020]FIG. 12 is an isometric view of the partially assembled shelf unitillustrating the top shelf fully installed.

[0021]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of a barrier element.

[0022]FIG. 14 is an enlarged elevation view of a barrier element tabtaken within the circle 14-14 of FIG. 13.

[0023]FIG. 15 is an isometric view illustrating a first step in theassembly of a barrier element and the shelf.

[0024]FIG. 16 is an isometric view of the shelf and the barrier elementillustrating a second step of assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0025] While the present invention is open to various modifications andalternative constructions, the preferred embodiment shown in the variousfigures of the drawing will be described herein in detail. It isunderstood, however, that there is no intention to limit the inventionto the particular embodiment, form or example disclosed. On thecontrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalentstructures and methods, and alternative constructions falling within thespirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims,pursuant to Title 35 U.S.C. section 112 (second paragraph).

[0026] A portion of a mobile shelving system 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and2. The system includes a shelf unit 12 and three tracks 14, 16 and 18.In a full system a plurality of shelf units will move along the tracks.The number of shelf units and their size is a function of storagerequirements and does not impact the disclosure here. The shelf unit 12includes a carriage 20 to which is mounted a set of wheels (not shown),four corner frame members or posts 22, 24, 26, 28 and two intermediateframe posts 30, 32. Mounted to the corner posts and intermediate postsare a plurality of shelves 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54,56, 58, 60, 62, 64. Mounted to most of the shelves are barrier elements66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 88. Of course, more postsand shelves may be mounted to the carriage if desired.

[0027] Mounted to the two right corner members 22, 24 is an upper endpanel 90 and a lower end panel 92. A crank handle 94 is attached to atransmission system (not shown) for providing the transfer of motiveforce from the crank to the wheels to move the shelf unit along thetracks. Instead of the crank and transmission, a motor and drive systemmay be used so that only a small switch is mounted to the lower panel.

[0028] Focusing on the frame posts, FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the carriage 20includes two longitudinal frame members 96, 98 and four cross members100, 102, 104 (of which only three cross members are shown). The crossmembers are attached to the longitudinal frame members by screwfasteners, such as the screws 106, 108, 110, 112 for the cross member102. A feature of the mobile shelving system disclosed here is that thesame screw fasteners used to connect the carriage members are also usedto attach the intermediate posts 30, 32 and the corner posts 22, 24, 26,28 to the carriage.

[0029] Each intermediate post, for example, is initially formed in agenerally rectangular shape (see FIG. 4) with two rows of aligned slits,such as the slit pairs 114 and 116, extending in a longitudinaldirection. At what becomes the lower end 117 of the vertically disposedframe post 30 is an upside down T-shaped tab 118 having two fastenerreceiving openings 120, 122 in the head of the T, spaced from oneanother in a lateral direction.

[0030] When the frame post is fully formed (see FIGS. 3 and 5), theflat, rectangular shape is changed to a generally U-shape having a baseportion 124 and two arm portions 126, 128 where the arm portions extendin planes parallel to the direction of movement of the shelf unit on thetracks. In this manner the slit pairs are aligned parallel to slit pairs127, 129 in the corner posts 22 and are provided to facilitate thehorizontal mounting of the shelves.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, there are already four screw fasteners106, 108, 110, 112 in the longitudinal carriage member 96 for attachingthe cross member 102. Two of the screw fasteners 106, 108 not onlyattach the cross member to the longitudinal member but also attach theframe post 30 to the carriage 20. Thus, the two screw fasteners passthrough the openings 120, 122 in the T-shaped tab 118 before enteringthe longitudinal member 96 and the cross member 102

[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a clip 130 used to connect ashelf to the corner and intermediate posts is illustrated. The clip hasa generally C-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 6, including a baseportion 132 and two arm portions 134, 136. Each of the arms includes anupper, wide slot 138, 140 having generally parallel edges with bulbousportions 142, 144. Each wide slot includes an outer edge 146, 148, aninner edge 149,150 and a bottom edge 151, 152. The inner edges 149, 150of the wide slots are at a higher elevation than the outer edges 146,148 when the clip is operatively disposed. Each of the arm portions alsoincludes a lower narrow slot 154, 156 which has an outer edge 158, 160,an inner edge 161, 162, and a bottom edge 163, 164 where the outer edgeis approximately twice the length of the inner edge. The inner edges149, 150 of the upper slots and the inner edges 161, 162 of the lowerslots are aligned with one another and will bear against an inner wall166, FIG. 8, of a post when in use.

[0033] The wide slots 138, 140 are approximately twice the width of thenarrow slots 154, 156. In use, the arm portions 134, 136 are received byslits in the corner and intermediate posts to allow the clip 130 to beoperatively connected. The added width of the upper slots allows aflange from a shelf to be received and thereby allows the mounting of ashelf to four aligned, but spaced apart clips.

[0034]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the process of installing the clip 130 tothe post 30. The clip is disposed so that the base portion 132 is atapproximately ninety degrees to the post. Because end portions 180, 182,FIG. 7, of the arms 134, 136 extend beyond an upper edge 184 of the baseportion 132, the upper portions of the arms will be received by a pairof slits 186, 188 when the upper edge 184 contacts the post. The nextstep is to rotate the clip approximately ninety degrees counterclockwisein the FIGS. 8 and 9 orientation to align the base portion 132 parallelto the post. Thereafter, the clip is pushed downwardly until the bottomedges 163, 164 of the narrow slots 154, 156 engage the post as shown inFIG. 9. As mentioned earlier, the wide slots 138, 140 not only helpsecure the clip to the post but provide sufficient space to mount ashelf.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 10, the shelf 34 is shown in more detail.The shelf includes a generally rectangular panel 190 in which are threepairs of slits 192, 194, 198 centrally located on the panel and fourseries of cutouts 200, 202, 204, 206, two cutout series to either sideof the slits. The shelf also includes four corner portions 210, 212,214, 216 formed by border flanges, such as a longitudinal flange 220 anda lateral flange 222. The four corner portions are received by fourclips as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIG. 11, the shelf 34 is supportedon its right side by two clips 224, 226 attached to the corner posts 22,24 but not yet by the clips attached to the intermediate posts 30, 32.By tilting the shelf counterclockwise, the shelf also engages the clips,such as the clip 130, attached to the intermediate posts 30, 32. In thisfashion all of the shelves shown in FIG. 1 may be quickly and easilyconnected to the posts. The wide slots 138, 140 of each clip are wideenough to allow connection to the posts and also have room to receivethe flanges, such as the flange 222, of the shelves until the flangesengage the bottom edges 151, 152.

[0036] Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, the barrier element 66 is shownin detail. The element is C-shaped with a base portion 227 and two armportions 228, 230. At the end of each of the arm portions, such as thearm portion 230, are three attachment tabs 232, 234, 236, each having agenerally L-shaped configuration such that a slot 240 is formed, forexample, between the tab 232 and the arm portion 230 of sufficient depthor width to receive the thickness of the panel portion 190 of the shelf34. Installation of the barrier element 66 requires that the tabs bealigned with the three pairs of slits 192, 194, 198 in the center of theshelf, FIG. 15, and inserted as directed by the arrows 250, 252.Thereafter, the barrier element 66 is slid to the left as depicted inFIG. 16, by the arrows 254, 256 so as to engage the shelf and thebarrier element slot. The barrier elements act to block the insertion offile folders beyond the barrier element thereby providing that the filefolders are all in alignment and providing an aesthetically pleasingappearance. Also, file folders from one side of a shelf unit will notinterfere with the insertion of file folders from the opposite side ofthe shelf unit.

[0037] Assembly of the shelf unit may be done quite easily and quicklyusing relatively few and inexpensive parts. In the usual fashion thecarriage parts are provided and the four corner frame members areerected by being fastened to the carriage using the same screw fastenersintended for assembly of the carriage alone. The same screw fastenersused between the carriage longitudinal members and selected lateralmembers also attach the intermediate frame posts to the carriage. Crossbraces 260, 262, FIG. 2, may be installed and the barrier elements maybe engaged with most of the shelves. Then, a plurality of clips areattached to the corner and the intermediate posts in a predeterminedfashion to support the shelves. The shelves may be easily and quicklyinstalled so as to be supported by the clips and in turn by the posts.

[0038] It is understood that should banker boxes be stored rather thanindividual file folders, the shelves may not need barrier elements norhave any of the slits or cutouts illustrated in FIG. 1. It is furtherunderstood that while specific examples of posts, clips, shelves,barrier elements and the like are given, each of these items representall such similar items of a shelf unit.

[0039] The above specification describes in detail the preferredembodiment of the present invention. Other examples, embodiments,modifications and variations will, under both the literal claim languageand the doctrine of equivalents, come within the scope of the inventiondefined by the appended claims. For example, the various shapes of thecorner posts, the intermediate posts and the shelves may be altered andstill be considered to be equivalent structures. As mentioned, theshelves may not have slits or cutouts. Or, the barrier elements may havetabs but no slots, or the barrier elements may not be used. Further,they will all come within the literal language of the claims. Stillother alternatives will also be equivalent as will many newtechnologies. There is no desire or intention here to limit in any waythe application of the doctrine of equivalents nor to limit or restrictthe scope of the invention.

1. A mobile shelving system comprising: a track; a carriage adapted tomove along said track, said carriage including fasteners for attachingmembers of said carriages together; vertically disposed corner framemembers connected to said carriage; vertically disposed frame postslocated intermediate said corner frame members and being connected tosaid carriage with said fasteners of said carriage; a plurality of clipsconnected to said corner frame members and said intermediate frame postsfor connecting shelves to said corner frame members and to saidintermediate posts; and a plurality of shelves connected to said cornerframe members and to said intermediate posts, each shelf being mountedto selected groupings of four clips of said plurality of clips.
 2. Thesystem as claimed in claim 1 including: a plurality of barrier elementsconnected to selected shelves of said plurality of shelves for limitingthe depth of storage insertion; and wherein each of said frame posts isgenerally U-shaped with a depending tab, said tab having two laterallyspaced fastener openings.
 3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein:each of said frame posts is connected to said carriage by passing saidcarriage fasteners through said laterally spaced fastener openings. 4.The systems as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said tab has a generallyup-side-down T-shape, with a head and a body, and said laterally spacedfastener openings being located in said head.
 5. The system as claimedin claim 1 wherein: each of said plurality of clips is generallyC-shaped and includes a base portion and two arm portions, each of saidarm portions having a vertically disposed wide upper slot and avertically disposed narrow lower slot.
 6. The system as claimed in claim5 wherein: said wide slot is about twice as wide as said narrow slot. 7.The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein: each of said arm portions ofeach clip of said plurality of clips is receivable by a slit in saidcorner frame member or in said frame post; and each of said arm portionsof each clip receives a portion of a shelf in said wide upper slot. 8.The system as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said wide and said narrowslots each includes an inner edge, the inner edges of said slots beingaligned with one another; and said narrow slot includes an outer edgewhich is longer than the inner edge of said narrow slot.
 9. The systemas claimed in claim 8 wherein: said wide slot includes an outer edgewhich is at a higher elevation than said inner edge of said wide slotwhen said clip of which the edges are a part is in an installeddisposition.
 10. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein: each of saidplurality of shelves includes a flange which is receivable by said wideslot of a respective clip.
 11. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein:each of said plurality of barrier elements has a generally C-shape witha base portion and two arm portions and attachment tabs extending fromends of said arm portions.
 12. The system as claimed in claim 11wherein: each of said attachment tabs has a generally L-shapedconfiguration and forms with said connected arm portion a slot largerthan the thickness of a shelf.
 13. The system as claimed in claim 12wherein: each of said plurality of shelves includes a series of slitsfor receiving said attachment tabs of a barrier element.
 14. A systemsas claimed in claim 2 wherein: each of said plurality of clips isgenerally C-shaped and includes a base portion and two arm portions,each of said arm portions having a vertically disposed wide upper slotand a vertically disposed narrow lower slot.
 15. A system as claimed inclaim 4 wherein: each of said plurality of barrier elements has agenerally C-shape with a base portion and two arm portions andattachment tabs extending from ends of said arm portions.
 16. The systemas claimed in claim 15 wherein: each of said plurality of shelvesincludes a flange which is receivable by said wide slot of a respectiveclip.
 17. The system as claimed in claim 16 wherein: each of said frameposts is connected to said carriage by passing carriage fastenersthrough said laterally spaced fastener openings; said wide slot is abouttwice as wide as said narrow slot; and each of said attachment tabs hasa generally L-shaped configuration and forms with said connected armportion a slot larger than the thickness of a shelf.
 18. The system asclaimed in claim 17 wherein: each of said arm portions of each clip ofsaid plurality of clips is receivable by a slit in said corner framemembers or in said frame posts and each of said arm portions receives aportion of a shelf in said wide upper slot; and each of said pluralityof shelves includes a series of slits for receiving said attachment tabsof a barrier element.
 19. The system as claimed in claim 18 wherein:said wide and said narrow slots each includes an inner edge, the inneredges being aligned with one another; and said narrow slot includes anouter edge which is longer than the inner edge of said narrow slot. 20.The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein: said wide slot includes anouter edge which is at a higher elevation than said inner edge of saidwide slot when said clip of which the edge is a part is in an installeddisposition.
 21. A method for assembling a mobile shelving systemcomprising the steps of: providing tracks; forming a carriage to movealong said tracks; connecting vertically disposed corner andintermediate posts to said carriage using fasteners from said carriage;providing a plurality of clips; installing said clips on said posts in apredetermined manner; mounting a shelf on four clips in a predeterminedmanner; providing barrier elements; and mounting said barrier elementsto selective shelves.